Industry News

 

>>Protecting Against Radon
Source: epa.gov
In Nov. 2015, EPA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Health and Human Services, and nine national non-governmental organizations launched the National Radon Action Plan. Radon, the silent killer, is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency encourages Americans around the country to test their homes for this naturally occurring radioactive gas. Winter is an especially good time to test because windows and doors are closed and families tend to spend more time inside where radon can be trapped. More information on how to test, obtain a test kit and contact your state radon office can be found at: www.epa.gov/radon. 

>>SPF Foam Installer Training with ABAA -- Register by Feb. 8 
Source: airbarrier.org
ABAA will be hosting an SPF Installer Training course in East Windsor, N.J, Feb. 23-25, 2016. This course is designed for the experienced SPF installer to learn how to install SPF as a complete air barrier system in commercial buildings. This course includes instruction on everything from selecting proper materials, substrate preparation, application technology, troubleshooting and hands-on training.  The deadline to register for this course is Monday, Feb. 8 at noon CDT. The classroom will be at Coastol Insulation Corp. 

>>The New Building Science Reality
Source: energy.gov / Eric Werling
Builders today are under tremendous pressure. They have to build the tightest, most insulated buildings of all time that are structurally sound; free of defects, fire hazards, mold, and moisture problems; AND are both cheaper and faster to construct than ever before. We can only accomplish all of this if we gain even more control over building science and construction processes. It is the new reality of the construction business.

>>8 Energy-Saving Solutions on the Horizon
Source: energy.gov
Thanks to breakthroughs by our National Labs, industry and academia, equipment we use in our homes is more energy efficient than ever before, saving consumers money and slashing carbon pollution. Let’s take a look at a few technologies we can expect to see in the marketplace within the next few years that will make our homes even more sustainable.

>>Bending the Curve: Implementation of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
Source: aceee.org
This report reviews the implementation of the energy efficiency provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), including vehicle fuel economy standards, the light bulb standard, appliance and equipment standards, energy use labels, building efficiency policies, federal energy management, and efficiency programs. EISA was passed with bipartisan support in Congress, signed by President George W. Bush, and implemented mostly by President Obama’s administration. Although some policies have languished and some programs were never funded, the key standards have been implemented effectively, and other programs received billions of dollars in Recovery Act and other stimulus funding. We estimate that the law will save consumers over $2 trillion and by 2030 will reduce oil use by almost 3 million barrels a day and overall energy use by 8 quadrillion Btu (about 8%).

>>Congress Passes $1.8 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill and $680 Billion Tax Extenders Package
Source: Craig Brightup
On December 18, 2015, Congress passed a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill and $680 billion tax extenders package that the President signed into law. The "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016" funds the federal government through September 2016 and the "Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015" (PATH Act) extends over 50 tax breaks for businesses and individuals. Full coverage of this news will be included in the next issue of SPRAYFOAM Professional.